i am getting used to cooking for one. for the past several years there was always someone to cook for... my sister, my brother in law, my friends who sleep over, my ex...
these days it's just me, and although i can argueably say that sometimes i eat enough for two, generally i just cook for one.
it takes a lot of adjusting. this morning i tried cooking about 3 tablespoons of rice (half a rice cooker cup) for my lunch. i burst out laughing when i looked into the rice cooker. there, at the bottom of the pan, was half an inch of cooked rice. the lot looked lonely. but i was surprised that they actually filled my lunch box. it appealed somewhat to my twisted sense of order--imagine 3 tablespoons of uncooked rice is to one lunch box of cooked rice!
there are rules to follow in cooking for one, i suppose. halve recipes for two, think in terms of teaspoons and tablespoons instead of cups, buy tiny versions of onions and garlic and other vegetables, never ever buy by the kilo, etc. etc. etc.
i have this niggling feeling that soon i'll be feeling bereft eating by myself. but it's not happening just yet. right now i guess i'm just enjoying cooking for one. a party of one.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Monday, February 06, 2006
ilagay niyo naman sa lugar
a few weeks ago i posted something about us filipinos being able to smile in the face of chaos. last saturday this was proven once more.
i finally tuned in to the news to watch the coverage of the stampede at ultra. there was a shot of a correspondent at the arlington funeral homes and behind that oh-so-somber looking reporter, there were about 10 guys waving and smiling at the camera.
smiling in the face of chaos isn't all that bad. but hell, this was at a funeral home! and a lot of people had gotten trampled to death.
i probably would have found this forgiveable had they not been at the funeral home. probably.
ewan. minsan parang nakakahiyang sabihing pinoy ako.
i finally tuned in to the news to watch the coverage of the stampede at ultra. there was a shot of a correspondent at the arlington funeral homes and behind that oh-so-somber looking reporter, there were about 10 guys waving and smiling at the camera.
smiling in the face of chaos isn't all that bad. but hell, this was at a funeral home! and a lot of people had gotten trampled to death.
i probably would have found this forgiveable had they not been at the funeral home. probably.
ewan. minsan parang nakakahiyang sabihing pinoy ako.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Monday, January 30, 2006
oompa loompa
seriously considering changing careers.
lately i've been making truffles left and right, experimenting with various flavors and shapes, and learning the tricks of tempering and dipping and making centers. go figure.
i think i've mentioned it before that cooking is one thing i really enjoy. i guess there's something comforting about knowing exactly what to do, and knowing just what went wrong if things don't turn out as expected. i figured i might as well make money while am at it.
so i made some samples, and let people in the office taste them. lo and behold i had orders long before i even computed the cost of making them.
although i know that at this point it would be foolish for me to do it full time, my thoughts never stray far from making chocolates.
weird, since i'm not all that fond of chocolate. but i like making them, and that's that, i suppose.
lately i've been making truffles left and right, experimenting with various flavors and shapes, and learning the tricks of tempering and dipping and making centers. go figure.
i think i've mentioned it before that cooking is one thing i really enjoy. i guess there's something comforting about knowing exactly what to do, and knowing just what went wrong if things don't turn out as expected. i figured i might as well make money while am at it.
so i made some samples, and let people in the office taste them. lo and behold i had orders long before i even computed the cost of making them.
although i know that at this point it would be foolish for me to do it full time, my thoughts never stray far from making chocolates.
weird, since i'm not all that fond of chocolate. but i like making them, and that's that, i suppose.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
on a day like today
browsed through my archives to see what i blogged about on the same date last year and the year before that. fortunately enough there are entries dated january 11, 2004 - sibling rivalry and january 11, 2005 - magnetic poetry.
it's not enough tho, if i plan to review the life i've led for the past 2 years since i started working. so i guess that'll have to wait till the weekend.
in the meantime, i work.
it's not enough tho, if i plan to review the life i've led for the past 2 years since i started working. so i guess that'll have to wait till the weekend.
in the meantime, i work.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
looped
this song sung by stacey kent has been playing over and over on my cd player, (and in my head, might i add).
"You're Looking At Me"
Who had the boys turning hand springs?
Crazy to love her claimed she
Who could so misunderstand things?
You're looking at me
Who was so sure of her conquest?
Sure as a human could be
Who wound up losing the contest?
You're looking at me
You're looking at me
Where is that girl?
Who was certain her charms couldn't fail
Where is that girl?
Believed every word of this ridiculous tale
Who was so childishly flattered?
Thought she'd swept him off his feet
Who woke to find her dreams shattered?
Might I repeat
Might I repeat for you
Needn't strain your eyes
To see what I want you to see
That's right
You're looking at me.
~~~~~~~~
hmmmm.
"You're Looking At Me"
Who had the boys turning hand springs?
Crazy to love her claimed she
Who could so misunderstand things?
You're looking at me
Who was so sure of her conquest?
Sure as a human could be
Who wound up losing the contest?
You're looking at me
You're looking at me
Where is that girl?
Who was certain her charms couldn't fail
Where is that girl?
Believed every word of this ridiculous tale
Who was so childishly flattered?
Thought she'd swept him off his feet
Who woke to find her dreams shattered?
Might I repeat
Might I repeat for you
Needn't strain your eyes
To see what I want you to see
That's right
You're looking at me.
~~~~~~~~
hmmmm.
Friday, January 06, 2006
pwede hong bumati?
my OFW friend and i found ourselves having a couple of beers and talking about his experiences as a worker in kuwait. we inevitably ended up discussing filipinos in general.
imagine this... you see a reporter on tv standing in front of a house that has crumbled to the ground because of an earthquake or other calamity. people are scrambling about in panic, most of them in tears. suddenly you see a head peeking from behind the oblivious reporter, its face sporting a big smile, with a hand (presumably attached to the head's body) waving at the camera.
we filipinos love having our pictures taken. or videos taken of us. during parties, people run to be part of a group of people having their picture taken, even if they're not really part of that group. standing and waving in front of a tv crew becomes imperative, even if there is practically bedlam all around. yes, we can smile in the face of chaos.
i ended up saying that if the world ends, we would be one of the last races to go. we've had our share of calamities, and everytime, we cry our hearts out then pick up whatever is left and move on. when there's a flood, rafts appear from nowhere, charging people to cross the flooded streets and stay dry. during earthquakes, makeshift food stalls spring up around shelters. when pinatubo erupted, people started making items from the ashfall to sell.
even the political situation in the country sparks the filipino's creativity. the hello garci ring tones attest to that.
the point being, we always make the best out of every situation. or at least we try to turn them into opportunities. and then we get on with our lives.
siguro matatawag na oportunista ang pinoy. that's not such a bad thing, now, is it?
and i guess sometimes it's what makes me proud to be pinoy.
la lang. writing out loud.
back to work.
imagine this... you see a reporter on tv standing in front of a house that has crumbled to the ground because of an earthquake or other calamity. people are scrambling about in panic, most of them in tears. suddenly you see a head peeking from behind the oblivious reporter, its face sporting a big smile, with a hand (presumably attached to the head's body) waving at the camera.
we filipinos love having our pictures taken. or videos taken of us. during parties, people run to be part of a group of people having their picture taken, even if they're not really part of that group. standing and waving in front of a tv crew becomes imperative, even if there is practically bedlam all around. yes, we can smile in the face of chaos.
i ended up saying that if the world ends, we would be one of the last races to go. we've had our share of calamities, and everytime, we cry our hearts out then pick up whatever is left and move on. when there's a flood, rafts appear from nowhere, charging people to cross the flooded streets and stay dry. during earthquakes, makeshift food stalls spring up around shelters. when pinatubo erupted, people started making items from the ashfall to sell.
even the political situation in the country sparks the filipino's creativity. the hello garci ring tones attest to that.
the point being, we always make the best out of every situation. or at least we try to turn them into opportunities. and then we get on with our lives.
siguro matatawag na oportunista ang pinoy. that's not such a bad thing, now, is it?
and i guess sometimes it's what makes me proud to be pinoy.
la lang. writing out loud.
back to work.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
narnia aside
Joys That Sting
by C.S. Lewis, presumably after the early death of his wife.
"Oh doe not die," says Donne, "for I shall hate
All women so." How false this sentence rings.
Women? But in a life made desolate
It is the joys once shared that have the stings.
To take the old walks alone, or not at all,
To order one pint where I ordered two,
To think of, and then not make, the small
Time-honoured joke (senseless to all but you);
To laugh (oh, one'll laugh), to talk upon
Themes that we talked upon when you were there,
To make some poor pretence of going on,
Be kind to one's old friends, and seem to care,
While no one (O God) through the years will say
The simplest, common word in just your way.
-got this from little-bunny's.
by C.S. Lewis, presumably after the early death of his wife.
"Oh doe not die," says Donne, "for I shall hate
All women so." How false this sentence rings.
Women? But in a life made desolate
It is the joys once shared that have the stings.
To take the old walks alone, or not at all,
To order one pint where I ordered two,
To think of, and then not make, the small
Time-honoured joke (senseless to all but you);
To laugh (oh, one'll laugh), to talk upon
Themes that we talked upon when you were there,
To make some poor pretence of going on,
Be kind to one's old friends, and seem to care,
While no one (O God) through the years will say
The simplest, common word in just your way.
-got this from little-bunny's.
sigh. even my dad has joined the fray.
what would you do if your dad introduced you this way:
"this is tina. my youngest daughter. she's a lawyer. she's single. so if you have any friends who are as beautiful as she is..."
suffice it to say that i walked out that time.
everybody's out to get me attached. why?
"this is tina. my youngest daughter. she's a lawyer. she's single. so if you have any friends who are as beautiful as she is..."
suffice it to say that i walked out that time.
everybody's out to get me attached. why?
Monday, December 26, 2005
swung by little-bunny's
Sat on your rooftop?
uh-huh. every chance i get.
Kissed someone in the rain?
ummm.yep. :)
Danced in a public place?
groceries, sidewalks, restaurants... any place with enough space.
Smiled for no reason?
most definitely.
Laughed so hard you cried?
yes yes yes.
Written a song?
do lyrics count?
Sang to someone for no reason?
yep.
Performed on a stage?
back when i was still cross-eyed and stupid.
Talked to someone you don't know?
yep.
Made out in a theater?
yeth.
Gone roller skating since 8th grade?
yep.
Been in love?
yeth yeth yeth!
WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON TO...
Say HI to you?
ate kay.
Tell you, I love you?
secret. :)
Kissed you?
him. the one.
Hug you?
anna b. before she left for the beach.
Tell you BYE?
him. the one. go figure.
Write you a note?
does "return call to HR" count?
Take your photo?
our in-house super photographer tom. (see below)
Call your cell phone?
mags
Buy you something?
him.
Go with you to the movies?
tibibord. king kong.
Sing to you?
hahaha.
Write a poem about you?
him.
Text message you?
reyna. she's going back to sleep.
WHATS THE LAST...
Time you laughed?
last night before bed.
Time you cried?
this morning.
Movie you watched?
king kong
Joke you told?
too long to type. i'm lazy. something about pugad baboy.
Song you've sang?
supercalifragelisticexpialidocious.
Time you've looked at the clock?
8:51 am
Drink you've had?
hot chocolate.
Number you've dialed?
abigail's number
Book you've read?
the curious incident of the dog in the night time
Food you've eaten?
mechado!
Flavor of gum chewed?
mint
Shoes you've worn?
kedsport sneakers
Store you've been in?
i don't remember. the past days have been hazy.
Thing you've said?
please dial again
CAN YOU...
Write with both hands?
yeah.
Whistle?
like a pro.
Blow a bubble?
yeth
Roll your tounge in a circle?
yep.
Cross your eyes?
who can't?
Touch your tounge to your nose?
no
Dance?
yes
Gleek?
wha?
Stay up a whole night without sleep?
yes. i'd be telling crazy jokes or crying by 5 am
Speak a different language?
do dialiects count?
Impersonate someone?
yeah. many someones.
Prank call people?
every now and then to keep my skills honed.
Make a card pyramid?
never tried
Cook anything?
absobloominlutely.
FINISH THE LINE...
If i were ...
any crazier, i'd be in the loony bin.
I wish ...
i were 2 inches taller. just 2.
So many people don't know that ...
i like musicals.
uh-huh. every chance i get.
Kissed someone in the rain?
ummm.yep. :)
Danced in a public place?
groceries, sidewalks, restaurants... any place with enough space.
Smiled for no reason?
most definitely.
Laughed so hard you cried?
yes yes yes.
Written a song?
do lyrics count?
Sang to someone for no reason?
yep.
Performed on a stage?
back when i was still cross-eyed and stupid.
Talked to someone you don't know?
yep.
Made out in a theater?
yeth.
Gone roller skating since 8th grade?
yep.
Been in love?
yeth yeth yeth!
WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON TO...
Say HI to you?
ate kay.
Tell you, I love you?
secret. :)
Kissed you?
him. the one.
Hug you?
anna b. before she left for the beach.
Tell you BYE?
him. the one. go figure.
Write you a note?
does "return call to HR" count?
Take your photo?
our in-house super photographer tom. (see below)
Call your cell phone?
mags
Buy you something?
him.
Go with you to the movies?
tibibord. king kong.
Sing to you?
hahaha.
Write a poem about you?
him.
Text message you?
reyna. she's going back to sleep.
WHATS THE LAST...
Time you laughed?
last night before bed.
Time you cried?
this morning.
Movie you watched?
king kong
Joke you told?
too long to type. i'm lazy. something about pugad baboy.
Song you've sang?
supercalifragelisticexpialidocious.
Time you've looked at the clock?
8:51 am
Drink you've had?
hot chocolate.
Number you've dialed?
abigail's number
Book you've read?
the curious incident of the dog in the night time
Food you've eaten?
mechado!
Flavor of gum chewed?
mint
Shoes you've worn?
kedsport sneakers
Store you've been in?
i don't remember. the past days have been hazy.
Thing you've said?
please dial again
CAN YOU...
Write with both hands?
yeah.
Whistle?
like a pro.
Blow a bubble?
yeth
Roll your tounge in a circle?
yep.
Cross your eyes?
who can't?
Touch your tounge to your nose?
no
Dance?
yes
Gleek?
wha?
Stay up a whole night without sleep?
yes. i'd be telling crazy jokes or crying by 5 am
Speak a different language?
do dialiects count?
Impersonate someone?
yeah. many someones.
Prank call people?
every now and then to keep my skills honed.
Make a card pyramid?
never tried
Cook anything?
absobloominlutely.
FINISH THE LINE...
If i were ...
any crazier, i'd be in the loony bin.
I wish ...
i were 2 inches taller. just 2.
So many people don't know that ...
i like musicals.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
and then there were four.
i posted this earlier this year. like i said, it was the first time in 10 years that the six of us would be together again.
one sister is living in the US. currently there are five of us in the philippines.
and next year there will only be four.
Monday, December 19, 2005
i don't like you...
.... you're ugsome!
new word. :D
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
obiter
sometimes, when all is said and done, it all boils down to ego.
new word. :D
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
obiter
sometimes, when all is said and done, it all boils down to ego.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
my baby's married...
she's a couple of years older than i am but she's always been my baby. i was always considered the more responsible one, and i tried to be as responsible as possible... well most of the time.
yesterday she tied the knot and i felt a tiny twinge of sadness at the thought that she isn't my responsibility anymore. but looking at her so happy made me feel better. i was turning her over to better hands.
yesterday she confirmed what i have always known... she will be a beautiful bride. she was.
congratulations to you and dennis. love you. :)
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